(Eagle News) — The military clashed with alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf’s Ajang-Ajang group, which has been tagged as a suspect in the Jolo, Sulu blasts that killed at least 21 over the weekend.
In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command said the clash between soldiers of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion and around 20 members of the group under Macrin took place at 7:20 a.m. in Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu.
The gunfight, Wesmincom said, lasted for around five minutes.
There were so far no casualties on the part of the government security forces, who are so far still pursuing the terrorists.
There were also no casualties on the side of the Abu Sayyaf.
Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said the police were in pursuit of alias “Kamah,” commander of the Ajang-Ajang group, who is still a suspect in the blasts at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral on Sunday, Jan. 27.
Albayalde said authorities were also looking into reports a Yemeni couple was behind the blasts, and that a woman left a “package,” possibly the explosives, in the cathedral.
